Charles Lamb

As when a child...

As when a child on some long winter's night Affrighted clinging to its Grandam's knees With eager wond'ring and perturbed delight Listens strange tales of fearful dark decrees Muttered to wretch by necromantic spell; Or of those hags, who at the witching time Of murky midnight ride the air sublime, And mingle foul embrace with fiends of Hell: Cold Horror drinks its blood! Anon the tear More gentle starts, to hear the Beldame tell Of pretty babes, that loved each other dear, Murdered by cruel Uncle's mandate fell: Ev'n such the shiv'ring joys thy tones impart, Ev'n so thou, Siddons! meltest my sad heart!